On the border with Campania, Ruvo del Monte was in the past a major hub linking the neighbouring region with the hinterland of Basilicata. It has therefore witnessed the passage of numerous civilisations that have succeeded one another over time. The settlement was probably founded by the Samnites under the name of Rufrae, although the first document mentioning the town as Ruvo dates back to 1045.
It was a powerful Longobard stronghold of the Conza countship, and, after the Swabian domination, belonged to the Armaterra family. The centre was destroyed during the Ghibelline repression of 1268 and was rebuilt in the 14th century by the De Balzo family. Later it was ruled by various families.
The Castle, dating back to the 16th century, is of great architectural interest; the building is flanked by a tower built in the Angevin period, which still has its original battlements. Near the Castle is the 'Fontana Vecchia', the oldest fountain in the village, with two drinking troughs. The Main Church is also interesting, with a painting on canvas of the "Purgatory" from the 17th century.
In the Cerrutolo district, the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey of San Tommaso, built between the 13th and 14th centuries, can be admired, while in the Sant'Antonio district lie the remains of an ancient necropolis.
Ruvo del Monte in the Park
9.1% of its municipal territory, around 294 hectares, falls within the Park. The Bucito municipal woodland is predominantly characterised by oak, beech, fir and chestnut trees; it has a wealth of waterways and is the natural habitat for valuable mammal fauna, including wolves, and ornithofauna, with a diverse community of birds of prey. In the heart of the wood is the so-called "Casone", once the scene of clashes between brigands and the Piedmontese army, and now the site of the regional Environmental Education Centre.
